Stress-free day beckons as cars banished
Bus Eireann will be providing free travel in six of the participating areas between 10am and 4 pm.
These are Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Galway, Waterford and Athlone. Dublin Bus and Dart are drawing up their plans for the event.
The date for Car-Free Day is fixed for September 22 annually and the initiative takes place simultaneously throughout all participating European countries.
The 19 Irish cites and towns taking part this year are: Athlone, Balbriggan, Clonakilty, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Galway, Greystones, Tralee, Listowel, Killarney, Kilkenny, Limerick, Newcastlewest, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford, Westport and Wicklow.
Each participating local authority is focusing on alternative worker mobility initiatives, such as car-sharing, cycling, walking to work or public transport.
Environment Minister Martin Cullen said the fact that the number of towns and cities taking part had jumped from 10 to 19 was a good indicator of the momentum the event was gathering.
He said Car-Free Day was about stimulating debate on urban transport options that would allow us go about our everyday lives in ease.
“Through Car-Free day we can plant a seed in the minds of people that there are viable alternatives to the motor car.
Ninety per cent of residents in participating towns and cities think patterns of car use in towns are a problem.
A total of 83% surveyed believe car use must be limited to improve the freedom of movement in cities and towns.
